Affiliation:
1. Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Hospital Universitario Materno Infantil de Canarias, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Abstract
Fetal pericardiocentesis is a safe and effective procedure that is used to drain pericardial effusion in selected fetuses. The aim of the procedure is to reduce the risk of pulmonary hypoplasia, the development of cardiac tamponade and fetal hydrops, and in some cases to allow fetal lung maturity, improving fetal extraction with a better haemodynamic and respiratory condition. In this review, we discuss the indications, technical procedure, and the outcomes of the fetal pericardiocentesis reported in the literature.